Maybe the comparison is a little over used, you know, “Three strikes and you’re out.” Maybe it is because baseball has become so popular that we like to use it to say a lot without saying a lot. On the other hand, it might just be that it is so, well apropos. Whatever, whichever, or for what purpose, I’d like to barrow the little phrase another time. More accurately, I might suggest it one more time. As the reader, it is up to you to determine if it fits. I only suggest three historic facts along with a few other considerations.
Before I state my 3 point case, let me make this short qualifying statement. It would seem, for whatever reasons, the Catholic Church has become synonymous with Christian Church. Hence, any time anyone says something contrary about the Catholic Church, it is assumed he is saying something bad about Christians in general. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
First, my statements are historic. You make your own decision(s). I am neither going to try to persuade you one way or the other. The Catholic Church needs to stand or fall on its own accomplishments, good or bad. Regardless, all should have access to the info so he or she can make an informed decision.
First, the Catholic Church went after and killed thousands of Jews at or about the third or fourth century. Their logic was that the Jews killed Jesus. Hard as this is to believe, it’s fact. Look it up as I did.
Incidentally, it is this reason that the Jews are so suspicious of all Christians, Catholic or not. It has made explaining the plan of salvation to Jews far more difficult, this, ironically in spite of the fact that Christianity started with the Jews. There is far more to be said on this subject but I am trying to stay with three points.
During the time historians call the dark ages, (please don’t ask me to give the dates) the Catholic Church taught that the common man was not to study the Bible.
The Bible was almost totally copied in Latin and only the Catholic clergy had the proper training to read and interpret the word. I can speak volumes on this alone, but I am going to stay to the facts.
This is totally in opposition to the bible, itself. (2nd Tim. 2:15) Hence, I do believe that I can say, contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church, the church did teach things absolute opposite to scripture. I would really like to go into many more examples, but I promised to stick to history.
The third historic point is the teaching of purgatory. It is one of the results of the previous point. The Catholics used the above logic to convince the common people of a place called purgatory, a place for souls to remain until their descendants pay to have them moved on up into heaven.
Today, most of us consider the idea ridiculous, but it went on for, I guess, a couple of hundred years. Incidentally, the Catholic Church did profit immensely and I don’t believe there is one Catholic clergyman that will stand and deny it. It was during this time that the huge cathedrals were built while the common man went hungry to make sure grandpa or grandma could go to heaven.
It is a historic fact. The Catholics dare not outright deny it, but I assure you, they don’t brag about it. They outright lied to the congregation for purely self-serving purposes.
As an aside. I would be completely amiss to ignore the fact that, for years, the Catholic Church was the only major church that spoke out against abortion. It is likely one of the reasons they managed to get Rowe past on The Supreme Court. Had a few of the major faiths spoke out as much against abortion, there just might not have been the mass slaughter of innocent babies. I am sorry to say, I was slow getting on that wagon too. The blood of some of those little ones belongs on my hands, too. It is something I will not be able to explain when I face Jesus, face to face.
Also, I would like to say this to one and all that The Catholic Church is not the Church. Perhaps, after you read this, you will agree with me that it is a church instead of the Christian Church. Just maybe, they have made three mighty swings at the ball and didn’t even come close. Do we really want to search out a religion that intentionally lies and deceives to their congregation?
More important, is this really the type of religion God wants for us?
Please give it a little thought.
Oh, pardon me. I just have to say three more things. It was a Roman cross where Jesus died under the supervision of Roman soldiers. If Jesus had not died, none of us would have any hope of salvation. Even the Catholics must admit that. Finally, it was God’s plan that Jesus die. It was all laid out before the foundation of the earth was laid. Let’s try to keep a little of the truth in there, okay? We all have our part in nailing Jesus to that cross. Yet, He went willingly, because of His love and because of His mercy for us individually as well as collectively. They really ought not to try to pin their own sins on the shoulder’s other men, as the Catholic Church attempted.
bfrhodes99 